Former National Publicity
Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has spoken
for the first time on his health challenges.

While receiving members of the
Anambra Progressive Union (APU) at his Abuja home on Sunday, he advised
politicians at all levels to pay adequate attention to their personal health,
regardless of their busy schedule, Vanguard reports.

According to him, if he had made
out time to undergo a prescribed minor corrective surgery when his spinal chord
ailment was first diagnosed at the National Hospital in 2008, he wouldn’t be in
the situation he is today.

“No matter how busy you may be in
politics or business, you must find time to take adequate care of your health.
This is very important. In 2008, I was diagnosed with a minor spinal chord
issue for which doctors at the National Hospital recommended that I undergo a
laminectomy which is more of a minor corrective surgery.

“At that time, I had just been
sworn in as National Vice Chairman (South East) of the PDP. I underrated the
situation. In fact, I felt that it had to do with the stress of the campaign,
so I did not go for the surgery. I was very much engulfed with political
activities.

“Later, I started having much
pain in my spine and some doctors I met in Dubai recommended a palliative hot
water therapy in the absence of a surgery, which I did. I never went back for
the operation but continued with the therapy while busy with political activities.

“In 2016 when I was arrested and
detained, the situation aggravated but worsened after I had a very bad fall in
the office, for which I was rushed to the National Hospital where I lost
sensation on my lower limbs. They conducted an MRI scan and found out that my
condition has really deteriorated.

“Several times I had fallen into
trauma. On one of those occasions, I had to be brought from hospital to court
on a stretcher, almost unconscious. As at then, I couldn’t move my lower limbs.

“Later, I was discharged but
still attended hospital clinics in a wheelchair. However, the constant
physiotherapy with the infrared radiation I just acquired have ameliorated the
pains and I now move around better with my crutches and other mobility aids,”
Metuh narrated.